What is harder to compete in bbing or plfting?

[Dr Squat]

Mainly just concerned about their health. Yeah, I'm aware not everyone in the world that's lean is going to be healthy, but in general they are, because you could probably name another 50 lean people who you know that are healthy.

I know that's their goal and it probably lessons their range of motion, but there are a lot of big guys who are still quite lean and have no issues winning competitions.

I know I'm not a powerlifter so I can't exactly relate to it and like TWL said, I'm not exactly in the position to say anything, but I'm just trying to contribute other elements into the discussion to get different views.

You have every right to comment bro. I tend to agree with some of what you say. I don't think there is any great advantage in being fat for powerlifting. But sometimes it comes down to bodyweight. I know personally at this point that a kg of bodyweight gives me about 2-3 kg in the bench. Obviously there will be diminishing returns at some point. Lean muscle would probably equate to even more.

[Dr Squat]

In the powerlifting unltd movie they claim scott mendelson is 11% LOL

We use the same calipers lol...

[Big john]

i spose you have to watch your drug and food intake a hell of alot more being a bodybuilder? and the mental side of dieting esp if you compete several times a year..

The drug issue is interesting. Bodybuilders in NZ currently don't have to worry about testing. Whereas powerlifting is subject to testing. Read into that what you like.

I have a huge respect for bodybuilders in terms of mental discipline with dieting. The reality is that most seem to keep on track. The prospect of parading on stage probably motivates them.

Powerlifting is mentally challenging sport. Until you have pushed yourself to the absolute limit on your 3rd squat attempt you won't be able to understand this. It's not like aiming for a set of 10 on cable crossovers and missing the last rep. :wink:

This might stir a few up but it seems to me that the "outcome" in bodybuilding is largely determined before the big day. Sure you have to get on stage and face off with other competitors on the day but your presentation is the result of your efforts that have occurred over many weeks and maybe months. Powerlifters prepare over a long period of time also but they have to get it right technically on the day or they fail. There is nothing more devastating than "bombing" and wasting all of that preparation.

Agree with you there bro, and i don't think you can call bodybuilding a sport anyway.

whats the BBing equvielent of "bombing"? coming in over 12% bf? :grin: serious question,

[thatwaslight]

The drug issue is interesting. Bodybuilders in NZ currently don't have to worry about testing. Whereas powerlifting is subject to testing. Read into that what you like.

I have a huge respect for bodybuilders in terms of mental discipline with dieting. The reality is that most seem to keep on track. The prospect of parading on stage probably motivates them.

Powerlifting is mentally challenging sport. Until you have pushed yourself to the absolute limit on your 3rd squat attempt you won't be able to understand this. It's not like aiming for a set of 10 on cable crossovers and missing the last rep. :wink:

This might stir a few up but it seems to me that the "outcome" in bodybuilding is largely determined before the big day. Sure you have to get on stage and face off with other competitors on the day but your presentation is the result of your efforts that have occurred over many weeks and maybe months. Powerlifters prepare over a long period of time also but they have to get it right technically on the day or they fail. There is nothing more devastating than "bombing" and wasting all of that preparation.

Agree with you there bro, and i don't think you can call bodybuilding a sport anyway.

whats the BBing equvielent of "bombing"? coming in over 12% bf? :grin: serious question,

LOL fucking up the carb up coming in flat as fuark i surpose

[nate225]

Would love to hear some opinions from those who have actually competed in both sports? Guessing what it's like competing as a BBer if you've only done PLing, or conversely talking about the pressures of a 3-lift comp when you've never been there, is kind of like me comparing either sport to sychronised swimming! I have no idea how hard it is to do that sport btw!

Having competed in both sports (PLing to Nationals/Oceanias Level, BBing to Nationals) I would say they're both tough in their own way.

BBing is a 24/7 game when pre-contest time comes, give 100% and tick all the boxes along the way (despite feeling like death at times!) and you'll come in as good as you genetics allow you.

PLing is a fine art of balancing peaking & managing injuries, as well as mastering the lifting gear and making the white lights. Weight classes can also put a twist on things. Give 100% focus and tick all the boxes and you'll come in as strong as your genetics allow you..... I see a pattern.

The third sport I've competed in, Strongman (National/International Level), was very similar to a combination of the two above.

I'm picking any sport is as hard to excel in as any other. To be elite in any sport nowdays (which I will never be! :grin: ) means a set of fantastic genetics for that sport and a huge work ethic, usually backed up with a bunch of funding for resources (nutrition, S&C, technical, psychology etc). The days of the grafter making the All Blacks is probably over sorry lads!

In summary my vote goes to both sports are equally as hard to compete in. As mentioned earlier you can come on stage at 12% after 6 weeks half ass dieting, just as easily you can turn up for a bench comp with no real specific training and bench 100kg weighing the same. You get what you're prepared to sacrifice in both sports.

[Gym rat]

I would pick bodybuilding like when it comes to dieting down for a show things can get very expensive for the cost of food,supplement,dream tan etc.

[HarryB]

i spose you have to watch your drug and food intake a hell of alot more being a bodybuilder? and the mental side of dieting esp if you compete several times a year..

The drug issue is interesting. Bodybuilders in NZ currently don't have to worry about testing. Whereas powerlifting is subject to testing. Read into that what you like.

I have a huge respect for bodybuilders in terms of mental discipline with dieting. The reality is that most seem to keep on track. The prospect of parading on stage probably motivates them.

Powerlifting is mentally challenging sport. Until you have pushed yourself to the absolute limit on your 3rd squat attempt you won't be able to understand this. It's not like aiming for a set of 10 on cable crossovers and missing the last rep. :wink:

This might stir a few up but it seems to me that the "outcome" in bodybuilding is largely determined before the big day. Sure you have to get on stage and face off with other competitors on the day but your presentation is the result of your efforts that have occurred over many weeks and maybe months. Powerlifters prepare over a long period of time also but they have to get it right technically on the day or they fail. There is nothing more devastating than "bombing" and wasting all of that preparation.

I read this with interest, the question is which is harder to actually compete at. I like PLing because like most sports you can pull something out on the day. If you aren't ready on the day in bbing you can't do anything. There's no lifting for the event. It's all about what you do leading up to it.

I won't get into the training differences because that's whole other discussion and bound to lead to a lot of chest thumping about who trains harder blah blah blah... we both train hard, we just train different.

What I will say is that I would probably find it easier transitioning from bbing to pling than someone who is a 5'7 115k pl would to bb competition. I would really just have to make some adjustments to my form and get used to using the equipment. Not disrespecting plers because that shit is hard to do, just saying. Whereas a pl would have to make big adjustments to their diet and the way in which they train etc etc Also I think that bbers in general pay attention to aesthetics and balance because we have to, whereas someone who has a lifetime of pling training is going to be playing catchup on things they don't train because it doesn't help them bench, deadlift or squat.

Back to the question though... the actual competition.. well Pl is a physical contest and bodybuilding is more like a pageant lol... I'm not sure doing a front dble biceps is harder than a 300k deadlift ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha but the work leading up to it is....

[Riccardo]

I would pick bodybuilding like when it comes to dieting down for a show things can get very expensive for the cost of food,supplement,dream tan etc.

Case closed!

[Tonka]

Both sports share various levels of competition; novice-intermediate-elite-international elite. My thinking regardless of what level you are participating in is that BBing will require more from you in terms of the work expected outside the gym i.e diet, cardio, posing practice, rest etc. Correct me if Im wrong but the ratio for BBing is 30% gym work - 70% diet (?). To an extent powerlifting (for the weight limited classes) who may be required to watch their food intake to remain within class BUT nothing compared to BBers. Technical aspects of the lifts can addressed in the gym and mental toughness is built up with experience and time under the bar

From a training perspective without having to go into too much detail, it would on a similar plain only different methods and structures are used. Volume, intensity and training regularity are totally irrelavent because the goals are so different.

[lemon]

I won't get into the training differences because that's whole other discussion and bound to lead to a lot of chest thumping about who trains harder blah blah blah... we both train hard, we just train different.

bodybuilding training is harder I consider myself more of a powerlifter, but the day I train legs (like a bodybuilder would) its way more exhausting and dreading.

[PeterDolan]

I won't get into the training differences because that's whole other discussion and bound to lead to a lot of chest thumping about who trains harder blah blah blah... we both train hard, we just train different.

bodybuilding training is harder I consider myself more of a powerlifter, but the day I train legs (like a bodybuilder would) its way more exhausting and dreading.

Yeah but you guys have to spend upwards of 1 1/2 hours in that forsaken building which is difficult to fit in. Especially for guys like nate who have a family etc, that extra time is hard to find and to be focused the whole time

[thatwaslight]

I won't get into the training differences because that's whole other discussion and bound to lead to a lot of chest thumping about who trains harder blah blah blah... we both train hard, we just train different.

bodybuilding training is harder I consider myself more of a powerlifter, but the day I train legs (like a bodybuilder would) its way more exhausting and dreading.

Yeah but you guys have to spend upwards of 1 1/2 hours in that forsaken building which is difficult to fit in. Especially for guys like nate who have a family etc, that extra time is hard to find and to be focused the whole time

Someone had children with Nate!??...... :shock: :grin:

[PeterDolan]

Ouch

[AgentOrange]

[Darkmanx]

Personally i think strongman should have been added to this thread as well. For me this the harder of the other 2 in question. I have competed in all 3 in my very late teens and before i started my rugby career.

But again this is just my opinion and personal experience. Thats the great thing of being individual, we are all different and what is might come easy for one could be hard for another.

[nate225]

Personally i think strongman should have been added to this thread as well. For me this the harder of the other 2 in question. I have competed in all 3 in my very late teens and before i started my rugby career.

But again this is just my opinion and personal experience. Thats the great thing of being individual, we are all different and what is might come easy for one could be hard for another.

Great call Darkmanx!

[Katie1309]

na jks sorry guys! i reckon they both totally different so there is no harder one... genetics play a huge part in determining which one you are most suited at for most of us id say so each would be harder for different people.

take big john for example it would be harder for him to accel in bodybuilding compared to powerlifting but somone like rakish itd be harder for him to accel in powerlifting over bodybuilding.

Good call!! What'd you get suspended for THIS time!!!???

[HarryB]

Personally i think strongman should have been added to this thread as well. For me this the harder of the other 2 in question. I have competed in all 3 in my very late teens and before i started my rugby career.

But again this is just my opinion and personal experience. Thats the great thing of being individual, we are all different and what is might come easy for one could be hard for another.

Great call Darkmanx!

Yep!

[Chemo]

Personally i think strongman should have been added to this thread as well. For me this the harder of the other 2 in question. I have competed in all 3 in my very late teens and before i started my rugby career.

But again this is just my opinion and personal experience. Thats the great thing of being individual, we are all different and what is might come easy for one could be hard for another.

Great call Darkmanx!

Yep!

+1

I would add that Bodybuilding seems to take a lot more balance and control of your lifestyle. Both are just fkn hard in all respects anyway, respect to anyone who takes there lifting seriously.

[Android]

Franco says...

[soundsgood]

It's completely up to each individual as to how much effort they put in.

I have friends who are powerlifting at national level who have to focus on their diet more than some other guys I know who bodybuild at a regional level. People seem to think powerlifters in the open weight class have it easy, but I would imagine it can't be easy keeping up your weight when you are someone like Tonka.

Dieting for shows isn't always fun, but eating when you're full is no fun either.

I put 100% of myself into bodybuilding and I'm sure when I turn to powerlifting eventually I will put in just as much effort. Perhaps just in different areas.

[Grover]

Franco says...

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From the horse's mouth!

[Cameron_R]

whats the BBing equvielent of "bombing"? coming in over 12% bf? :grin: serious question,

On show day, running out of Dream Tan half way through application :shock:

[tinytraps]

The sports are quite different from each other so it would be hard to compare.

Now between strongman and powerlifting the few strongman comps Ive done were way harder than any powerlifting comp Ive done. To me competing in powerlifting is easy just go and lift. But Ive been absolutley rooted after every sm comp Ive done, much more physically taxing.

[Wookie]

I'd probably say bodybuilding on the basis that to be good it consumes your life likely more than powerlifting would.

That said, from my ignorant opinion, much of the work for BB seems to have been done before comp day. It's kind of hard to 'bomb' out a BB show. You generally know when you're not going to do well.

I may be biased, but to be a top class strongman is a ton of work as well. I remember back in 2009 how much of a struggle it was to do all the training and eating to maintain 150kg. Then compete in 8 events over 2 days as is usual for a big comp, tough.

So my answer is: all these sports are different. To be the best, you don't take shortcuts.